Warn VR Gen II Winch

When choosing a winch, you might think that the Warn brand, while being one of the best there’s ever been, is a bit out of reach with your limited funds. But as Eric describes, you can get a good winch with a brand name, and not have to work double shifts to pay for it.

The Warn VR Gen II Series of winches is just what you want. A tough middle range winch, with the Warn brand name and rock solid reputation. Perfect for the average Jeeper or truck enthusiast that likes to have a backup plan if they get stuck or they need to save the day.

Best of all, as of 2017, Warn has gone through the entire VR series of winches and upgraded them from the original specs, to make them even better than before. Both internally and externally have been given the treatment for a stronger and even more reliable winch.

For the exterior, the solenoid housing can now be removed, so you can operate the winch remotely if you desire (the remote is sometimes sold separately). Warn has streamlined the look a bit, making it not only pleasing to the eye but able to get into some tight quarters for almost any style bumper or vehicle.

Warn has also added a beefy rubber plug to protect the connection to the solenoid from water, dust, mud, or other stuff. The external clutch handle is made from strong cast iron, so you can get a good solid grip on it, even if your hands are muddy, or you’re wearing heavy gloves.

The fairlead is also cast iron. It’s heavy, thick, and a brute to handle your winching work day in and day out (just don’t drop it on your foot). Best of all, it’s included with both the synthetic rope and cable winches. Also, the VR Series of winches use a one-piece tie across the top that’s made from metal, which is very rigid and strong.

While all that might seem like flashy convenience goodies, Warn hasn’t forgotten about where all the action is on the VR Series of Winches. The inner workings make it a contender for any trail or situation.

The motor has been updated to a powerful series wound motor. The cone breaking system has also been updated to hold the full capacity of the winch. Meaning, when you let off the trigger to stop winching, and you’re on an incline or have dead weight on the end, the winch will hold without slipping. This is a big plus for safety when using the VR Series.

Warn offers the VR Series of winches in 8,000lbs., 10,000lbs., and 12,000lbs. capacities. They come standard with steel cable, or you can order them with the optional synthetic rope.

Despite their compact footprint, these VR winches are blazing fast, with quicker line speeds than most average winches. The 8,000 is the fastest, pulling 29 feet per minute. The 10,000lbs. and 12,000lbs. winches are just a hair slower behind that, but not by much.

The Warn warranty applies to the VR Series, just like all their winches. They have a limited lifetime mechanical warranty, and the electrical warranty is good for seven years.

The Warn VR Series winches are entry level winches, but with the Warn name, that doesn’t mean you have to compromise. You can still get a great winch with Warn engineering but save a few dollars as well.